The parents of Bradley Sayer, the 18-year-old accused of fatally shooting two men at a Chico, California library, engaged in a bitter divorce battle that included disputes over their son's access to guns. Court documents obtained by The Post indicate Sayer's mother, Vicki Sayer, opposed her son using weapons, citing his autism, while his father, David Sayer, believed shooting enriched his life.
Bradley Sayer is accused of killing Jacob “Cody” Hull, 46, and Robert Johnson, 74, on June 22. Authorities state Sayer, described as a "fan" of the Columbine High School massacre, allegedly wrote "Natural Selection" on his T-shirt during the attack, mimicking the 1999 perpetrators.
Court filings from June 2022 detail the arguments between Vicki and David Sayer. Vicki's attorney expressed concerns about David taking Bradley shooting, stating that her son "does not function as a normal child" and that David continued to disregard his limitations. The attorney noted that a forensic psychologist had made recommendations regarding Bradley and that Vicki wanted modifications to ensure her ex-husband did not take their son shooting.
David Sayer's attorney countered that weapons had always been in the family home and were stored properly, and that Vicki had not previously raised concerns. The attorney asserted that David provided consistent, age-appropriate activities for Bradley, such as target shooting, skiing, and golfing, under his supervision, which had "enriched his (Bradley's) life and have built a wonderful bond between father and son."
David's legal representative also pushed back against Vicki's characterization of Bradley as "not a normal child." He stated that David embraced his son's identity and sought to provide him with opportunities, challenging Vicki's perceived limitations based on their son's autism diagnosis.
In June 2022, a settlement conference agreement outlined joint legal and physical custody for Bradley, with Vicki having sole educational rights. The agreement also stipulated that Bradley would attend a gun safety class with his father and receive individual counseling focused on social issues and the impact of his neuroatypical development.
According to the District Attorney's office, Sayer allegedly obtained three firearms—two .22 caliber rifles and a .20 gauge pump-action shotgun—from a bedroom closet at his father's home, where he was staying at the time of the incident.
Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence without parole for Sayer, who pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder with special circumstances during his arraignment on June 25. He reportedly displayed a hate group hand sign in court. Authorities noted that Sayer had spent considerable time on social media communities that glorified mass shootings, leading to what they described as a "copycat" act. He is also alleged to have recorded a video of the attack and left a "disturbing journal."